Mobile number Programme and Newsletter April-July 2015

Transcription

1 Mobile number Chairman s Notes Programme and Newsletter April-July 2015 Looking ahead to the summer months, I would ask you all to let Peter Rees have the dates and details of those walks you have been planning whilst sitting in front of the fire this winter. Peter has struggled lately to fill our programme and needs your support. It s becoming evident that a growing number of non Havering ramblers or other interested people are using the Rambler s mobile phone as a means of querying details about individual published walks. In all cases these queries could be easily answered by the walks leader rather than your chairman. It would make life simpler if leaders would consider providing a contact telephone number (mobile or land line) when submitting their walk details to Peter Rees. This is only a suggestion so please don t think it is mandatory. Just think about it for the future. Work on the new visitor s centre in the Hornchurch Country Park has started at last. It should be completed by late summer albeit depending upon the weather. A much needed facility for all walkers and bird watchers. (photo Diane Biggadike) 1

2 We have a new venue for this year s AGM. It will be held in the downstairs meeting room at the Billet (opposite the Queens Theatre) on Monday 26 th October. There is ample free parking in the Sainsbury s car park nearby. Although technically not part of this programme, don t forget our coach ramble on Tuesday, 31st March to Lavenham in Suffolk. Telephone Coral O Neill on to book. Secretary s Report Essex Area is looking for (1) An Area Countryside or Walking Environmental Officer. (2) An Essex Area Media Co-ordinator, to pick out achievements from the groups and try to get them in the South East Walker or other publications. Anyone interested? Havering Footpath & Countryside Officer Footpath Maintenance Working Party Thank you from me and Havering Council to everyone who has already helped with footpath maintenance. There will be further opportunities on the next programme for you to join in this worthwhile activity. The first provisional date on this programme is Friday 17 th April Our usual meeting time is 9.45am near where we will be working and we usually finish by 1pm. Information about the jobs will be available from me on a monthly basis. It would be very helpful if Ramblers would let me know of footpaths in Havering where they feel work needs to be done. NB: As usual we include an additional reminder of the Provisional dates of the Footpath maintenance working parties in the body of the programme. We hope that this will help all walkers to plan a date when they can participate in one of the working parties. A clear path makes it much easier for all members. 2

3 The closing date for the next programme is the 25 th June 2015 It would be much appreciated if you could supply your walks as soon possible especially if you require a specific date. Our drop dead date is the 25 th June 2015 but please remember the later you leave it the likelihood the dates that you require will be more restricted. If you would like to lead a walk on the next programme, please contact a member of the committee who I am sure will be happy to help you. Can you please give your walk for the next programme to either Peter O Neill on or Peter Rees on or peter.rees50@btinternet.com The committee would like to thank all the people who have given up their time to lead walks for us all. Although it is getting more and more difficult to fill the walks programme, we have managed to fill most walk dates in this programme, but please remember that we are always in need of people to lead our walks and that if we have no leaders we have no walks! 3

4 Web Master Walking Festival For those of us of a certain age will remember when the London Boroughs were formed in 1965, and Romford and Hornchurch merged to form London Borough of Havering, leaving behind Essex, becoming part of the Metropolis. Even the Police were no longer Essex but the Met. To commemorate the 50 th anniversary we, with Walking for Health, are having a walking Festival, from 23 rd May to 29 th May, contributing to the Council events. They will have a website page listing all events. Havering.aspx#EventsinHavering A big thank you goes to all the walk leaders without whom it would not be possible. Details of walks we are leading are in the programme. Do come to walks and enjoy them. Grid References Those little numbers and letters that mean so much. They sit there in the programme, and on the website, and on walkfinder, quietly telling you where to go. Or rather pointing on the map where to go. So if you know where you want to start your walk, but don t know how to find the Grid Reference it is really quite easy. Suppose you want the car park at the visitor centre in Bedfords Park. Logon to and in the search box type Bedfords Park A list will appear Select Bedfords Park Havering. A Map will appear of Bedfords park. If you want it bigger, click on the scale on the right hand side. Click on the Move Arrow button in bottom right hand side. It changes colour. The cursor changes to a cross. Place the cross on the car park, and click. The arrow moves to where you put the cross. Just under the centre arrow at the bottom of the map click on where it says Click Here to convert coordinates. The box which appears shows various coordinates. The National 4

5 Grid is the one used, in this case TQ This will be used to link to the Map, so members will know where to meet for the walk, particularly useful if it is along a road. Greener Still We all like to feel good, by doing something that helps. If you receive a printed copy of the programme consider if you need it, or is the electronic version, which can be viewed on smart phones, PCs, tablets etc. as good, if not better. If you are reading this on you device and feel you do not need the paper version please and let me know. HaveringEastLondonRamblers@gmail.com All walks If the weather is inclement, it is important to either check our web site as noted on page 1, or contact the leader to see if the walk will take place. Please telephone the walk leader direct for specific walk related queries before phoning group mobile phone number. As you are all aware we have been attracting 50 plus walkers on our London walks with a significant number of these not being members of our group. This is due to a large proportion of these people picking these walks up on Walk Finder. Therefore if you would prefer not to have your walk included in Walk Finder please let the Walks Secretary know when you supply your walk details. Due to a request from members of the group living in the Harold Wood area the committee has decided that walks that start in central London and beyond on Tuesdays will have a start time of 10:45. Timing of walks on Saturdays will still be at the discretion of the walk leader. 5

6 Please check for the availability of public transport on the TFL web site, before travelling at weekends to allow for the planning of alternative routes. Car share Please car share where possible, as parking is often quite limited. Walking with the Ramblers All sporting activities have inherent hazards associated with them, and rambling is no exception. In spite of the safety of members always being the paramount concern, accidents will occasionally occur. It is therefore important that when entering into the activity, each member appreciates that they have a responsibility to identify the hazards associated with the activity, and take all reasonable steps to eliminate or minimize the potential for an accident to occur. The Ramblers Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Company registration number Registered charity in England and Wales Number Registered office, 2 Floor, Camelford House, Albert Embankment London SE1 7TW. Dogs on walks * We have been informed by Ramblers Head Office that we need to comply with the Disability Equality Act (2010). We will continue to let Walks Leaders decide whether it is appropriate to allow dogs to participate in their walks, but even in cases where it is decided not to allow dogs to participate in a particular walk, we must allow registered assistance dogs to participate with their owners e.g. guide, hearing, service, therapy and seizure alert dogs. As a general rule only Registered Assistance Dogs will be allowed on walks unless the Walks Leader specifies that dogs are welcome. 6

7 Havering and East London Ramblers Association Committee Members Chair: Peter O Neill Secretary: Ken Richards, 26 Arundel Road Harold Wood. Romford. RM3 0RT Treasurer: John Smith Membership Secretary: Diane Biggadike. Walks Secretary: Peter Rees Havering Footpath & Countryside Officer Joan Bullivant Newham Footpath & Countryside Officer John Buckle* Webmaster: Peter Owen 7

8 Who s got the cakes then? Join our path maintenance working parties Provisional dates Friday 17 th April Friday 8 th May Friday 19 th June Friday 17 th July 8

9 As you read through this walks programme you will hopefully be thinking about the walks that you plan to put on the next programme. To facilitate getting dates that suit you we are happy to accept walks from the 18th August. Saturday 4 April 10:25 Liz Rayner Meet Epping Station at 10:25 (don t be late!) for vintage (or regular) bus to North Weald Station (10:50) on the Epping Ongar Railway. Walk to Ongar via the Essex Way. Then return via either the EOR and vintage buses, or the regular bus service. If you have family members staying with you for the Easter weekend then of course they can walk, but they will need to be sensibly booted or leave them enjoying the EOR whilst you walk and meet them on it later. Sunday 5 April 10:30 Micky Doyle Meet outside St Pauls Paternoster Sq by the gate. Short walk but lots to see. 4 to Tuesday 7 April 10:30 Norman Larsen Bicknacre -- Meet in car park of White Elm Garden Centre & Tea Room on B.1418 just past White Swan Pub. Circular walk via ancient paths and woods. Muddy after rain. Postcode CM3 4LR Saturday 11 April 10:30 John Buckle Meet at Island Gardens station D.L.R, walk to Blackheath and Greenwich Park. Finish at Cutty Sark station. 9

10 Sunday 12 April 9:0 Sandra Dalton Kent Walk will need to pay for Bridge online/phone. Contact leader beforehand. Meet Harold Wood station for car share to High Elms Country Park in Kent. Walk to Downe (Charles Darwin s home) for lunch via Cudham and bluebell woods. Pubs and café in Downe. Possibility of afternoon tea in High Elms visitor centre at end. 8 miles - Hilly Tuesday 14 April 10:45 Norman Larsen Regents Park in springtime. Meet at Baker Street tube station, Marylebone Rd exit. Walk through round park then onto little Venice via canal. Fri 17th April Provisional Date Footpath maintenance working party Sunday 19 April 10:0 Joan Bullivant Meet at Woolwich Arsenal DLR station for a circular walk. Pub or café stop but advisable to bring a packed lunch. 11 miles Tuesday 21 April 10:15 Joan Bullivant Meet at Chadwell Heath station for a linear walk to Fairlop tube station. Saturday 25 April 10:15 Chris West Meet at Leytonstone (Central Line) Station for a walk on the Centenary walk to Chingford Station, via Epping Forest and Highams Park. Saturday 18 April 10:30 Joan Bullivant Meet at Pimlico tube station for a linear walk to Sloane Square tube station. 10

11 Sunday 26 April 10:0 Ron Lockhart Meet at Tylers Common in Nags Head Lane for a circular walk. Post Code RM14 1TS GR LR175 TQ Well behaved dogs welcome NB On all of my 6 mile walks I will carry on in the afternoon if walkers want to! Tuesday 28 April 10:15 Peter Owen Meet at Bedford s Park visitor centre car park for walk around Havering atte Bower Saturday 2 May 10:30 Beryl Buckler & Coral O'Neill Meet at Turnham Green Underground Station for a linear walk. Sunday 3 May 10:0 Ron Lockhart Meet at Berwick Ponds. Post Code RM13 1SL GL LR175 TQ Well behaved dogs welcome Tuesday 5 May 10:0 Phil Havis Meet at recreation ground car park Walker Ave., off Houchin Drive, Fyfield. ( Houchin Drive is on the right just before entering Fyfield on the B184 from Ongar). A circular walk to Willingale. GR Post Code CM5 0RF 5. Fri 8th May Provisional Date Footpath maintenance working party Saturday 9 May 10:30 Rosalind Kendrick / Shirley Andrews Meet at the Information Centre / Toilets at One Tree Hill for a circular walk around Langdon Hills. GR Post Code SS17 9NH Lat N o / Long E o Registered assistance dogs only. 11

12 Sunday 10 May 9:0 Sandra Dalton Kent Walk see note 12/4/15 Meet Harold Wood station car park for car share to French Street, Kent for walk via Chartwell (Churchills house). Lunch at Westerham. Plenty of pubs and cafes miles - Hilly Tuesday 12 May 10:30 Les Cannings Meet at Wat Tyler Country Park in the car park on the right (green centre), Hall Lane, Pitsea. Post Code SS16 4UH. Saturday 16 May 10:0 Liz Rayner Meet Liverpool Street Station, by the Great Eastern Railway War Memorial (next to McDonalds, on the first floor walkway). Train to Theobalds Grove Station then walk to Gordons Hill Station via New River Path and Whitewebbs Park. Tuesday 19 May 10:30 Carol Thomas Meet outside Mole Trap Public House, Tawney Common. Epping For a walk around the woodlands of Stapleford Tawney. Please car share if possible, parking roadside/grass verge. Post Code CM16 7PU. 5. Thursday 21 May 7.30pm Sandra Dalton Meet at Miller & Carter, (was Camelot PH) Lambourne End GR Walk via forest and field paths visiting Lambourne church. 3. Sunday 17 May No walk 12

13 Havering 50 th Anniversary Walking Festival Saturday 23 May 10:15 Peter Owen / Brian Evans Meet at the Golden Lion, Junction North Street and High street, and Romford Market. For a Heritage Walk. Local Historian Brian Evans takes us back in time looking at the fascinating history and development of Romford, including its buildings, people and how things have changed over the years. Lots of talk over a relatively short walk. GR TQ Sunday 24 May Ron Lockhart Meet at Berwick Country Park in Berwick Pond Road for a start in Berwick Pond Country park. We cross the River Ingrebourne into Hornchurch Country Park (part of 13 the WW11. Hornchurch Airfield) and WW1 Suttons Farm Airfield. ) In 1916 William Leefe Robinson flew from here to shoot down the first Zeppelin and was awarded the VC. Local roads commemorate the pilots and aircraft of the Airfield. We visit St Andrews church and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery, and discover a little known fact about the area. Return to Berwick Pond through a newly opened area of Country Park. GR TQ Well behaved dogs welcome Monday 25 May Peter O Neill Meet at the Squadrons Approach Car Park for a Family Walk 3 to 4 miles From the car park (a former E- Pen see the rings used to tie down aircraft) Our walk includes some of the airfield defences, including pill boxes and Tett Turrets and the last Natural Wet Marsh in greater London Grid TQ to 4 miles

14 Tuesday 26 May am Ken Richards (Countryside walk) Meet at Harold Wood Park (car park by the cricket pavilion). A Thames Chase ramble exploring s Wood and Harold Court Woods. GR TQ Wednesday 27 May Micky Doyle Meet Junction Harrow Crescent and Keats Avenue, Harold Hill. Walk across the old Romford Common to Bedfords park via Bobs Lane (as featured in the poem Bobs Lane by Edward Thomas) and Ash Lane TQ Well behaved dogs welcome 5 mile (country walk). avenue of Giant Redwood Trees to reach a viewpoint giving striking views of The City skyline, Essex and Kent. This walk takes in Hainault Forest once owned by Barking Abbey its name Hyneholt is Old English for Wood belonging to a religious community. The wood was nearly lost to development but for the intervention of Edward Buxton, a local MP and conservationist, who in 1906 ensured it was bought and preserved as an open space for everyone to enjoy. As we walk to the cars, we should get the chance to capture the sun setting over the fields. Bring a camera for some photo opportunities. Sandra Dalton GR TQ Thursday 28 May 7:15 Sandra Dalton Meet behind St John The Evangelist Church in Havering- Atte-Bower. What could be nicer than enjoying fresh air and good company on a long Summer s evening? Come and join me for a walk taking in Havering-Atte- Bower, one of the highest points in London. Walk along a majestic 14

15 Friday, 29 May Peter Owen For a 6 mile Parkland walk. Meet under sign board opposite Romford Station. We walk through Lodge farm park, Raphael Park, Rise Park, to Bedfords park and back. Recently 1.87 Million has been spent renovating Raphael park, donated to the people of Romford by Sir Herbert Raphael some 110 years ago. The Bedfords Park visitor centre is built on the site of Bedfords House, Bedfords Park is home to a captive herd of Red deer. GR TQ mile Saturday 30 May Roy Clemance/Maureen Collins Meet at Sloane Square underground station for a circular walk around Chelsea & Brompton cemetery. Sunday 31 May 9:30 Kathleen Valentine Meet at Harold Wood Station car park for car share to Hainault Forest for circular walk Pub/café stop but advisable to bring packed lunch miles Tuesday 2 June 10:30 Marion Franklin Meet at Tesco's near Bromley- By-Bow station for a walk to, through and beyond the Olympic Park, returning to finish near John Lewis, Westfield Stratford. Saturday 6 June 10:30 David Brooks Meet at Lullingstone Country Park, visitor centre, Kent for a very hilly circular walk. GR TQ Post Code DA4 0JF 5. Sunday 7 June 9:0 Ron Lockhart Meet at HWNC car park (free parking) in Harold Wood for car share to Admiral M c Hardy Way in Chelmsford for a circular walk. Well behaved dogs welcome 10 miles

16 Tuesday 9 June 10:0 John Whitten Meet at car park in Aveley for walk around Kennington Park, then into Belhus Woods Country Park and back to Aveley. Grid Ref. TQ Post Code RM15 4BY Lat / Long E Thursday 11 June 7:30 Sandra Dalton Meet in car park opposite school in Chigwell Row GR Walk via forest and field paths edging Hainault Forest and Havering Atte Bower country parks. Some hills and one muddy path. Registered assistance dogs only. Saturday 13 June Peter Owen Meet at the RSPB car park Purfleet for a Linear walk to Grays following Thames path. Return by train to Purfleet (or walk if so desired) Map ref TQ Post code RM19 1GS. Car parking is free, but a donation is requested. Rail fare at moment Sunday 14 June 9:0 Norman Valentine Meet at Harold Wood car park for car share to Hadleigh Country Park for circular walk via Benfleet Creek to Leigh on Sea Pub/café stop in Leigh Registered assistance dogs only. 9 miles Tuesday 16 June 10:15 Joan Bullivant Meet at Dagenham East tube station for a linear walk to Elm Park tube station. Thursday 18 June 7:30 Sandra Dalton Meet in car park opposite Viper PH Mill Green (near Ingatestone) GR Walk via forest and field paths. One downhill stretch, in forest. All paths fairly good. Good opportunity to see wildlife. 6. Fri 19th June Provisional Date Footpath maintenance working party 16

17 Saturday 20 June 10:0 Peter Rees Meet at the Riverside car park off Cold Harbour Lane, Rainham for a circular walk to the RSPB reserve in Purfleet. Post code RM13 9YQ GR TQ Lat N / E Sunday 21 June 10:0 Ron Lockhart Meet at Navestock Side for a circular walk. Post Code CM14 5SD GR LR175 TQ Well behaved dogs welcome Tuesday 23 June 10:45 Ian Rusha Meet at West Brompton Underground Station for a linear walk. 5 Miles Saturday 27 June 10:30 Beryl Buckler & Coral O'Neill Meet at Warren Street Underground Station for a walk around Fitzrovia and Bloomsbury. Sunday 28 June 9:0 Norman Valentine Meet at Harold Wood station car park for car share to South Hanningfield for circular walk to Ramsden Bellhouse Pub stop but packed lunch advisable. 9. Tuesday 30 June 10:0 John Whitten Meet at Thames Chase Forest car park ( 1 charge) just off Pike Lane for a walk through Cranham Nature Reserve, Parklands, the Ingrebourne, Upminster Park and back to the Forest Centre. Post code RM14 3NS Registered assistance dogs only. 17

18 Thursday 2 July 7:30 Sandra Dalton Meet Childerditch Common car park Little Warley GR (near Greyhound PH). Walk in Thorndon Country Park and on field paths surrounding Childerditch. Some ups and downs, can be difficult over fields. Saturday 4 July 10:30 Les Cannings Meet at Kew Garden Underground Station (District line) for a linear walk to Richmond including Richmond Hill for the views. Sunday 5 July 10:0 Ron Lockhart Meet at Navestock Heath for a circular walk. Post Code RM4 1HD GR LR TQ Well behaved dogs welcome Tuesday 7 July 9:45 Peter O Neill Meet 9.45 at the Upminster Station ticket barriers (Hall Lane entrance) to catch a train to Shoeburyness for a linear walk to Chalkwell. There will be a lunch break in Southend. Return to Upminster as required. 7 miles Saturday 11 July 10:0 David Brooks/Beryl Buckler Meet at Childerditch Lane car park. Great Warley. For a circular walk around Warley. GR Postcode CM13 3EB. (Near the Greyhound pub). Lat. N /E Sunday 12 July 10:0 Ron Lockhart Meet at the Viper Public House in Mill Green for a circular walk. Post Code CM4 0PT GR LR TL Well behaved dogs welcome Tuesday 14 July 10:45 Joan Bullivant Meet at Holland Park tube station for a linear walk to South Kensington tube station. 18

19 Fri 17 th July Provisional Date Footpath maintenance working party Saturday 18 July 10:30 John Buckle Meet at Bromley-by-Bow station/ Tescos for canal walk via Victoria park and Limehouse basin, finishing at Canary Wharf. Sunday 19 July 9:30 Kathleen Valentine Meet at Harold Wood station car park for car share to Abridge for circular walk via Theydon Garnon and Hill Hall. Bring packed lunch please. 9 ½ miles Tuesday 21 July 10:0 Phil Havis Meet at Ingatestone Hall, Meadow Lane, car park, off Station Lane Ingatestone. A circular walk to Mountnessing Hall. GR Post code CM4 9NR Saturday 25 July 10:15 Peter Rees Meet at Hadleigh Country Park car park ( 2.30) in Chapel Lane for a circular walk. Post code SS7 2PP Lat N / E Sunday 26 July 9:0 Ron Lockhart Meet at HWNC car park in Harold Wood for a car share to Stock for a circular walk. Well behaved dogs welcome Tuesday 28 July 10:0 Ken Richards Meet at Weald Country Park, Visitors Centre Car Park at 10.00am. (There is a charge) for a circular walk. GR Thursday 30 July 7:15 Sandra Dalton Meet at Tower Arms PH South Weald GR Walk on good paths in and around Weald Country Park. 4-19

20 Walk Leaders Shirley Andrews David Brooks John Buckle Joan Bullivant Les Cannings Roy Clemance Sandra Dalton Micky Doyle Marion Franklin Phil Havis Ros Kendrick Norman Larsen Ron Lockhart Jerry O Brien Coral & Peter O Neill Don Ostle Peter Owen Peter Rees Ken Richards John Smith Carol Thomas Norman Tolley Norman & Kath Valentine John Whitten 20

21 Ramblers Holidays Walking Partnership The Havering and East London Ramblers group has recently joined The Walking Partnership. This new partnership, supported by Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, provides direct financial contributions to local walking groups to help with organising group walks, encouraging people to get out walking, helping to clear and improve footpaths, providing equipment to help walkers etc. Over the past 65 years, Ramblers Worldwide Holidays has given many millions of pounds to assist walking charities and conservation projects in Britain and the countries they visit on their worldwide holidays. Now our group can benefit directly. Ramblers Worldwide Holidays operate group walking holidays in the UK and all around the world. Each holiday is accompanied by a qualified walks leader, so you can leave all the organising to them and just enjoy meeting like minded people and of course, some fantastic walking. Holidays are graded in terms of difficulty, and there is a full range from sightseeing right up to hut-to-hut mountain treks. Take a look at their website on or give them a call on for more details or to order a brochure. Remember when you book to quote the name of our group, and we will then receive a contribution of 10 per person on UK holidays, 20 per person on short haul holidays, and 30 per person on long haul holidays. This extra funding could really make a difference to us. Are You interested in becoming a leader for Ramblers Holidays Contact Mandy Dorward, Leaders Manager Ramblers Worldwide Holidays mandyd@ramblersholidays.co.uk for details. Leading - are you interested in becoming a walks leader? 21

22 Our Leaders are an integral part of our short breaks and holidays and we are always interested in recruiting new leaders with the right experience, qualifications and aptitude. We welcome applications from people who speak French, German, Spanish, Italian, Greek or Portuguese to university degree level or people with Mountain Leadership summer or higher walking qualifications. It goes without saying that all applicants must also be confident, gregarious, good at managing people and good at problem solving. You ll need to be able to guide our groups around the world s great outdoors, navigate the backstreets or medieval cities, efficiently deal with both routine and extraordinary logistical tasks to ensure that things happen when they re required to, and cope with the paperwork of tour reports, updates for future leaders and the inevitable health and safety requirements to ensure that those buying our tours get the absolute most out of their holiday. You ll need to be independent, able at times to make difficult or unpopular decisions, put the welfare of your group first and to deal from time to time with difficult personalities. 22

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